The announcement ends the long-awaited suspense. He categorically said he is not entering politics for money or power, but to serve people.

Related

Tamil superstar Rajinikanth on Sunday announced that he would float a political party that would practice "spiritual politics" and contest in all of the state's 234 constituencies in the next Assembly polls in 2021.

Announcing his decision at a large gathering at Sri Raghavendra Kalyana Mandapam in Chennai, Rajinikanth said his party will not be contesting in the local body elections as the time for that was less. He also said the decision to contest in the 2019 Parliamentary elections will be taken at an appropriate time.

This announcement ends the long-awaited suspense. Calling his entry as "compulsion of time", he categorically said that he was not entering politics for money or power, but to serve people and revive democratic values.

"If I was hungry for power, I would have entered politics in 1996", said Rajinikanth.

Rajinikanth urged his fans not to talk about politics or comment about other parties till his party is floated. He said the first task was to get many of his unregistered fan clubs registered with the parent body.

He said the politics in the country has gone very wrong. We are going to change the system, be transparent, spiritual-politics, said Rajinikanth. He appealed for cooperation and support from his fans.

In 1996, he defied AIADMK leader J Jayalalithaa, asking people not to vote for her. “Even God can’t save Tamil Nadu if the AIADMK is elected again” — his famous words still echo in the southern state. 'Amma' eventually lost the Assembly elections and the DMK registered a landslide victory.

In the following political developments, he backed the DMK-TMC (Tamil Maanila Congress, led by the late GK Moopanar) combine, which also cashed in on the severe anti-incumbency against the ruling AIADMK. However, the combine could not keep the momentum on as AIADMK staged a good comeback in the 1998 parliamentary polls.

In the name of democracy politicians are robbing us of our own money on our own land. We need to bring a change from the base, said Rajinikanth .

Fellow actor Kamal Haasan has also hinted he was willing to work with Rajinikanth if the superstar ever decided to enter politics. Rajinikanth, who is referred as "Thalaivar" or "Ultimate Boss" by his fans, enjoys almost demigod status among his followers.

After Rajinikanth announced his entry into politics, various celebrities including megastar Amitabh Bachchan and Kamal Haasan gave their best wishes to the Tamil superstar.

Rajinikanth who enjoys almost demigod status among his legion of followers, said he does not want cadres for his new party, but "watchdogs". "I will be the head of these watchdogs... We should rope in all people in every village. This is my first task for you. At an appropriate time before assembly polls, we shall explain our policies and promises," he said.

On the last day of 2017 comes the Biggest News Maker Of The Year: @superstarrajini joins politics. Jai Ho.… https://t.co/q5uboxLsDj

I am not worried about coming to politics, I am worried about the media.

Even big shots see the media and get scared, and I am a small person.

I miss Cho, if he was near me now, it would have been like having 10 elephants with me.

Karmanye Vaadhika-raste, Maa Phaleshu Kadachana - Do what you have to do, and the results will follow, the Bhagvat Gita has said.

My entry into politics is certain. Naa Arasiyalku Varuvadhu Urudhi.

This is the compulsion of the times.

I will contest the state assembly polls in all the 234 constituencies in the upcoming polls.

I am not entering politics for money or fame. If I wanted power, I could have done it in 1996. But I did not want it then. When I was 45 I did not want it, would I want it now? I would be a fool if I did.

As a spiritual person I say, politics has become rotten. Democracy has worsened.

Recent events have shamed us, people from other states are laughing at us.

If I don't do this now, I will be failing in my duties to you. I would feel guilty if I do not do this now.

Everything has to be changed. The time for political change has come. System has to be changed, we will change it.

We need a spiritual politics, that is my goal, aim and intention.

I know this is not easy, it is like diving into the deep seas for pearls.

I have the blessings of God and support of people, I have that confidence.

People are being looted by politicians now. They come to power and they cheat people in several ways.

The party worker is the most important part of any party. But I don't want party workers, I want protectors. I want protectors who ensure that no one acts out of selfishness. I want protectors who hold leaders accountable. I am the representative of a a group of protectors.

Every corner of state should have our office, that is our first task. Till then, do not talk politics, including me. Don't talk about other politicians, don't protest.